Maras Moray Chinchero Private Tour: Sacred Valley Sites

Three thousand salt pools carved into the mountainside, still harvested the way the Incas did it.

A full-day private tour from Cusco visiting three major sites in the Sacred Valley: Moray's bowl-shaped agricultural terraces, the Maras salt pools cascading down the slopes, and Chinchero's Inca stonework and textile workshops. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking guide. Entrance fees to the archaeological sites are separate. Children from age 2 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Moray Agricultural Terraces2h
2. Maras Salt Pools2h

Explore Sacred Valley archaeological sites

• Hotel pickup around 8 AM
• Drive through Andes to Moray
• Visit Moray agricultural terraces
• Travel downhill to Maras Salt Mines
• Explore Maras salt pools
• Visit Chinchero village and Inca walls
• See colonial church murals
• Learn Andean textile weaving
• Return to Cusco

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup around 8 AM and a drive through the Andes lasting about an hour and twenty minutes. The route winds past snow-capped peaks and golden wheat fields, passing through traditional villages before reaching Moray at 11,482 feet. The site itself is three bowl-shaped terraces descending into the earth like an amphitheater: the Incas designed them to experiment with microclimates and test which crops thrived at different elevations. The symmetry reveals how much agricultural science went into these experiments centuries before modern farming.

From Moray, the tour drops just 2 miles downhill to the Maras salt pools at 11,090 feet. Over 3,000 individual evaporation chambers cascade down the mountainside, each one fed daily by a mineral-rich spring flowing from the mountains. As the sun evaporates the water, salt crystals are left behind and harvested using the same techniques that have worked since before the Incas. The contrast between the brilliant white salt flats and the rugged Andean slopes is the landscape's defining feature.

The final stop is Chinchero at 12,343 feet, a village where Inca stonework frames the main square alongside a colonial church decorated with murals blending Inca and Spanish traditions. The tour concludes in the weaving workshops, where local artisans demonstrate how they create intricate patterns using natural dyes and hand-spun wool: techniques passed down through generations. After this, the drive back to Cusco completes the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco.
• private transportation throughout the day.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• access to all three archaeological sites (entrance fees paid separately).
• time at the Maras salt pools and Moray terraces.
• visit to Chinchero's Inca walls, colonial church and textile workshops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Child (2 to 17 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availableNot for back problems

Operated by Inkayni Peru Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour to visit Moray's circular terraces, Maras salt ponds, and Chinchero in one day with pickup included. Choose Spanish-language guides if you prefer.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years).

How long is the drive from Cusco to the first site?

The drive to Moray takes about one hour and twenty minutes, winding through the Andes with views of snow-capped peaks and traditional villages along the way.

What exactly are the Moray terraces and why were they built?

Moray consists of three bowl-shaped terraces descending into the earth, designed by the Incas as an agricultural laboratory to experiment with microclimates and test which crops grew best at different elevations.

Are the salt pools still actively harvested?

Yes, the Maras salt pools remain in operation today: over 3,000 individual pools are filled daily by a natural mineral spring, and salt is harvested using centuries-old techniques as the sun evaporates the water.

What happens at Chinchero?

Chinchero is a village where you see Inca walls and ceremonial altars around the main square, visit a colonial church with Inca and Spanish artwork, and watch local artisans demonstrate traditional Andean weaving using natural dyes and hand-spun wool.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

This is a private tour with your own transportation and English-speaking guide. A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.

What should I bring for this tour?

Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, a waterproof jacket, water and a camera: the tour involves walking at high elevations (up to 12,343 feet) and the sites are exposed to sun and weather.